Foot-guard.



W. T. O'DONNELL.

VFOOT GUARD.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- so, 1915 1 1 86,6Q 1 Patented June 13, 1916.

gzzil f9) VVILLIAM T. ODONNELL, OF GREAT FALLS, MONTANA.

FOOT-GUARD.

Specification of Letters Patent. 'Patented June 13, 1916.

Application filed October 30, 1915. serial No. 58,759.

tion with the guard rails of railroad tracks.

Many fatal as well as serious accidents have occurred by reason ofpersons havm their feet caught between the main rail and" the guard railof railroad tracks, or between the main rails and the frogs of suchtracks, and being held. thereby until struck by trains.

It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide afoot guard which will prevent the entry of a persons foot to a positionwhere it will be caught, While at the same time, permitting thenecessary movement of the wheel flanges through the space guarded.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in thedetailed description which now follows.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a view of a portion of arailroad track illustrating the application of the invention. Fig. 2 isa plan view of the body portion of the foot guard employed inconjunction with the guard rails. Fig. 3 is a side view of said bodyportion. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one end of said body portionillustrating one of the springs employed. Fig. 5 is an end elevation ofthe foot guard showing it in operative relation to a main and a guardrail. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of a filling block hereinafterdescribed.

The general application of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 1 andits detailed construction is illustrated in Figs. 2 to 6 where it willbe seen that the body portion of the structure comprises an integralplate bent to substantial L-shape in cross section to thereby provide ahorizontal and slightly tapering top plate 6, and a vertical rear wall 7This rear wall is bent rearwardly at its ends to provide wings 8, andthe top plate 6 is inclined downwardly at its opposite ends as indicatedat 9 to prevent a person from putting his toe under the ends of the topplate 6. This top plate is provided with openings 10 in its rear wallthrough which bolts 11 having angular portions 12, pass. These boltshave nuts 13threaded upon their outer ends which nuts bear againstWashers 14, and these washers in turn bear against bowed springs 15. Thefree ends of the springs 15 bear against the web 16 of the guard rail17. The 'free edge of plate 6 is drawn by the springs into engagementwith the underside of ball 18 of rail 19. The position assumed by theflange 20 of the car wheel is illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 5, itbeing understood that when the car wheel passes over rail 19 the springs15 yield to permit the necessary downward movement of the free edge ofthe guard. If desired a filling block 21 maybe placed in. the positionillustrated in Fig. 5 to further guard against the possibility of apersons shoe sole or toe being caught between the guard and the ball ofrail 17' The filling block 21 consists, as shown, of an elongatedtriangular member of metal which may be secured in any'desired manner,as by welding for instance-to the upper face of the top plate 6 andabutting (when the plate 6 is raised) against the inner face of the ballof'guard rail 5.

It is to be understood that the tension of the: springs 15 is such as.to support the weight of the average'person. It therefore such personsteps upon the top of the guard the guard will not descend but willmaintain the position illustrated in Fig. 5, and it will be impossiblefor suchpersons foot to pass downwardly between the rails 17 and 19.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the preciseconstruction set forth, but that it includes within its purview;

such modifications and changes as come within the spirit of the appendedclaims.

Having described my invention what I claim is 1. A. foot guardcomprising a horizontal plate and a vertical plate, bolts passingthrough said vertical plate, main and guard rails through one of whichsaid bolts pass, and springs bearing between said last named rail, andelements carried by said bolts.

2. A foot guard comprising an integral element bent to form a t opplate, a side plate, wings carried by said side plate and inclined endportions upon the top plate, bolts passing through said sidewall,- mainand guard rails through one of which said bolts pass,

nuts threaded upon said bolts and springs '16 disposed between said nutsand the Web of the last named rail. 7

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in the presence of twoWitnesses;

WILLIAM T. ODONNELL. Witnesses:

JOHN A. GULLroKsoN, MAGDALYN M. :HARTING.

